NMDP Will Elect Presidential Candidate on April 20

After hot controversies on the date of the National Convention of the party, the New Millennium Democratic Party decided to elect its presidential candidate during the National Convention in April and the Grand National Party also made preparations for its National Convention, shifting the focus of political issues on both sides to the election of the presidential candidates.

By the time the NMDP made the decision to elect its presidential candidate before the local government elections in June, the ruling and opposition parties seem inevitably to change their whole election strategy. NMDP will confirm the date of the party`s National Convention at the executive members committee on the 7th.

The runners for the presidential election agreed to make the final decision at the executive committee meeting on the 7th whether the standing advisory meeting of the party will reach an agreement in details or not.

A high official of the party said, "Considering the local government election and the preliminary elections in 16 cities and provinces, the National Convention on April 20 has strong support."

NMDP, therefore, is likely to launch the party`s Organizing Committee For the National Convention and the Election Planning and Coordination Team to shift the party to an election system and to open registration for the party`s election college (50,000 people) to the public.

Standing Advisors Rhee In-Jae, Nho Moo-Hyun, Chung Dong-Young, Kim Jung-Kwon, Han Hwa-Gap, and Kim Keun-Tae and North Cholla Governor Yoo Jong-Geun who had prepared for the presidential election immediately began preparing for the election of the party`s presidential candidate.

In particular, since the party`s constitution and regulations are likely to be amended to allow the candidate to run for both the presidency and the party leadership at the executive meeting on the 7th, more runners for the presidential candidates will join in the competition.

Standing Advisors Park Sang-Chun and Kim Won-Gi are reportedly running for the party`s chair.

Meanwhile, GNP will discuss, on the 7th, how to establish a special organization to prepare for the dates and methods of the party`s National Convention, in which the party`s president and the Presidential candidate will be decided.

General secretary Lee Sang-Deuk remarked, "even though the party`s constitution and regulation describes that the general secretary undertakes the chairperson of the National Convention Organizing Committee, we will establish a new organization to guarantee fairness and neutrality. The presidential meeting will decide the participating persons and the operating methods of the new organization."

In-Soo Song issong@donga.com · chang@donga.com